yester

[ yes-ter ]

adjectiveArchaic.
  1. of or relating to yesterday.

Origin of yester

1
1570–80; back formation from yesterday, etc.

Other definitions for yester- (2 of 2)

yester-

  1. a combining form, now unproductive, occurring in words that denote an extent of time one period prior to the present period, the nature of the period being specified by the second element of the compound: yesterweek.

Origin of yester-

2
Middle English; Old English geostran, giestron; cognate with Dutch gisteren,German gestern; akin to Latin hesternus of yesterday

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use yester in a sentence

  • This is the proper tone to use when dealing with elderly muttonheads; with the Harpers of yester year.

    Instigations | Ezra Pound
  • “I never set eyes on the madman before yester eve,” said his astonished companion.

    The Great Mogul | Louis Tracy
  • Had it been yester evening, I would have met the best blade among these men at arms as blythely as ever I danced at a maypole.

    The Fair Maid of Perth | Sir Walter Scott
  • While I addressed thee fair and subtile words on yester even, O sweet and incomparable knight!

  • He would not have to look back and compare his last term unfavourably with the glories of yester year.

    The Loom of Youth | Alec Waugh

British Dictionary definitions for yester (1 of 2)

yester

/ (ˈjɛstə) /


adjective
  1. archaic of or relating to yesterday: yester sun Also: yestern (ˈjɛstən)

Origin of yester

1
Old English geostror; related to Old High German gestaron, Gothic gistra, Old Norse ī gǣr

British Dictionary definitions for yester- (2 of 2)

yester-

prefix
  1. indicating the day before today: yesterday

  2. indicating a period of time before the present one: yesteryear

Origin of yester-

2
Old English geostran; compare German gestern, Latin hesternus of yesterday

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012